Salisbury, Avebury & Stonehenge

Lots of details in your questions that prob warrants a local of the area. From my expereince: Usually Sunday transit options in the country side like Avebury are limited or not avail at all. I rented a car to give me the freedom and convenience and shelter from rain. To walk from Avebury to Stonehenge is too long IMO. There is not charge for Avebury visits yet. Consider taking a bus tour for Stonehenge -Avebury visits espec if you are thinking about a wkend visit.` Mad Max tours covers about 100mi. and incl 2 villages along w/ stonecircle visits. They depart from Bath. www.masmaxxtours.com.
hope this helps alittle.

The walk to Stonehenge could very easily consume more time than you will spend at the place. (I've been known to call it the Mt. Rushmore of England.) Hence, using a tour bus out of Salisbury is a useful idea. Salisbury is an interesting place, and the cathedral is top-notch. Consider staying overnight.) The station is about 20-30 minute walk from the town center.

"I read online that one could take a bus from Salisbury to Avebury, and then walk to Stonehenge." There must be some mistake, you don't want to try to walk from Avebury to Stonehenge.

I agree with JS about a bus tour. I don't usually like to go with groups or have things scheduled for me, I much prefer doing things on my own terms. But the last time I was in England (just passing through)I decided I really wanted to see Stonehenge but didn't want to deal with renting a car, so I sucked it up and signed up for a tour. I loved it! It was the"Stones and Bones" tour (I don't think the company that ran it is still around, but others do basically the same thing). It went to Avebury, Stonehenge, Old Sarum (the ruins of the original site of Salisbury), Salisbury and the cathedral. They used vans instead of buses so the group was small and there was no feeling of being herded around. We had plenty of time at each site and had the freedom to go off on our own as long as we were back in time to leave. They picked people up, and then dropped them off, at different hotels around London. Very convenient.

Google Maps makes it 22.5 miles between Avebury and Stonehenge.

Agreed=There must be some mistake, you don't want to try to walk from Avebury to Stonehenge.
The Stones and BOnes tour is wonderful, check it out. Small group!

Amesbury is a small town/ large village roughly between Salisbury and Stonehenge (we have stayed there a few times when visiting Stonehenge); Avebury is past Sonehenge is a very large stone circle around a separate (tiny) village called Avebury. There was no entrance fee to Avebury- extremely large circle, the road runs right through the circle. You can stop and get out of your car and touch the stones. We usually do Stionehenge and Avebury by car. (Have also done it by coach tour- doesnt gvie me enough time). You can take a public bus from Salisbury rail station to Stonehenge (and beyond?). Dont know about Sunday schedule. Much more satisfying to do them by rental car. Dont miss Salisbury Cathedral and surrounds. fantastic. There is a nearby car park. Station to center of town is an easy walk. As is center of town to the Cathedral.

We did visit Salisbury yesterday by train, and it wasn't too bad. Decided against Stonehenge because it was raining. I figured that since we had no plans for Sunday, and we got a good price for 4, it was worth the train ride (three trains!). Kids weren't feeling too well either so the slower pace of Salisbury was perfect. Next time we will rent a car or go with a tour group. I might be back in the UK next year anyway.

Mad Max Tours from Bath are very good. I enjoyed their Cotswolds tour as well as Avebury, and Stonehenge. Both Bath and Salisbury are well worth visiting. Cotswolds too. Avebury is free and interesting with a museum in the church and a tavern inside the stone circle. It's very different than Stonehenge and possibly gives you a better idea of what those ancients were up to. Lacock is interesting as well and is on the Mad Max tour. 22 mile walk. I don't think so! And I can verify that it is indeed 22 miles. I thought it was closer so I had to go to Google Maps and see for myself. However, walking on the public paths in England if you get to the right place is a real treat.

The only walk for most people has to be the one from Stonehenge to Woodhenge. If you take that little road on the west end of the Stonehenge parking lot, you can cut back across the fields and walk over to Woodhenge in about a half hour, maybe a little more.

I just returned from a trip to England and had the superb tour services of Alan Price at Celtic Horizons (http://www.celtichorizons.com/main/index.php?site=tour). Your time with him is well-spent and he charges by the hour no matter how many people in the car. His in-depth knowledge adds so much to the tour - he especially knows Stonehenge, Avebury and Salisbury as well as Oxford and the side trips he adds are a bonus. He will pick you up at the train station closest to where you want to start. He is in Rick Steve's book. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I realise using public transport wouldn't be a great idea.